558 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



At that time there were no textile materials raised there with 

 which they could have made cloth, even if they had the skill. How- 

 ever, they did plant hempseed and flaxseed, in 1032 and 1633, and 

 subsequently some cotton. But later (1644) they sent a ship to 

 Barbadoes to trade for cotton and it brought back a cargo of 11,018 

 pounds of cotton, which the women and girls learned to spin. 



The duty on tobacco was reduced to 6 d a pound, in consequence 

 of urgent petitions in 102 7, but even then it was not remunerative 

 under the conditions imposed by the Company. The colonists were 

 forbidden to trade with the other American colonies, even for neces- 

 sary things, nor could they trade with any ships except those sent 

 by the Company. Yet they were compelled to do so in order to live 

 at all, and so we find records of cargoes of potatoes, oranges, etc., 

 sent to New England at that time. On the other hand, the Company 

 continually complained of the poor quality of the tobacco sent to 

 them; but those planters who occupied the public lands on half- 

 shares complained that the Company would not pay for any part of 

 the labor necessary to properly cure even their own share, and con- 

 sequently much was spoiled for lack of sufficient help at the critical 

 time. 



The difficulties connected with the making of tobacco, especially 

 on the plan of half-shares, are well described in the following extract 

 from a letter sent by the Assembly, in 1027, to the Bermuda Com- 

 pany, in reply to a letter from the Company, dated Sept. 20th, 1626 

 complaining of the poor quality of the Bermuda tobacco, as con- 

 trasted with that from Virginia and St. Christopher's I., and also 

 requiring them to return to the system of cultivation at one-half 

 gross shares for the Company, as was customary for tenants in 

 England : 



as will cloathe us from surme and cold nights I thank god wee abound wth 

 vitualls in varietye and plentie both flesh and fish, rootes and fruits, so that wee 

 excell all the plantacons in the kings dominions, and wee desire to undertake 

 any travell and labour if wee had a subject to worke upon to cloathe ourselves, 

 but it is our miserie to live in these tymes that the more wee labour the more 

 wee are undone through the extreame ympost laid upon our goods, wc'h exceeds 

 the value of the commoditie, a thing without precedent and never before heard 

 of. I pray God amend yt and send us help from heaven for on earth I see but 

 little hope." 



He sent a present of some tobacco to which he referred as follows, in a post- 

 script : — 



" I beseech you vouchsafe the tasting of oiir poore Burmoodian Tobaeo wch is 

 2d worse than nothing the pound." 



